Charter School Turnaround Principal at Utopian Academy Arts

The Utopian Network is built around 4 schools:
Elementary, Flagship Middle, Middle at Trilith, and High.

Utopian Academy for the Arts
Elementary School is a premier performing arts school in Clayton County, GA. Our school has entertainment industry partnerships and a rich curriculum that supports the growth and development of the whole child as an artist, a leader, and a life – long learner. In fact, we refer to our students as scholars and have high expectations for their behavior and progress in the classroom.

Industry partnerships include the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Music Project, Kid Nation, and Trilith Studios.

Utopian Academy for the Arts Middle School offers a proven academic foundation and creative pipeline that equips scholars for success in high school, college, thriving arts careers, and lifelong achievement. We pride ourselves on thinking outside of the box to cultivate the full potential of our young creatives.

At Utopian Academy for the Arts at Trilith, creativity isn’t a class—it’s a way of life. Utopian Academy at Trilith is an arts-based public charter middle school, serving scholars in grades 6th–8th with a statewide attendance zone. Rooted in academic excellence and powered by the Creative Digital Arts, Utopian Academy at Trilith blends rigorous core instruction with an arts-integrated curriculum that sparks imagination and innovation.

At Utopian Academy for the Arts High School , excellence isn’t an aspiration – it’s the standard we rehearse every day. As Georgia’sonly tuition-free public charter high school with a fully integrated arts curriculum, we empower scholars to thrive academically, artistically, and professionally.

Position Overview

The Turnaround Principal is a transformational leader charged with rapidly improving student outcomes at a high-need school within our charter network. This individual will diagnose root causes of underperformance, build a high-functioning school culture, and execute a data-driven turnaround plan that accelerates achievement for all learners. The Turnaround Principal reports directly to the Executive Director and is accountable for measurable, sustainable gains in academic performance, school culture, and operational excellence.

Strategic Planning & Turnaround Leadership

The Turnaround Principal will lead all aspects of school transformation, implementing evidence-based strategies designed to achieve rapid, measurable improvement across the school community.

• Conduct a rigorous diagnostic assessment of the school’s instructional, cultural, and operational systems within the first 30 days to establish a clear baseline and identify root causes of underperformance.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive School Turnaround Plan (STP) with ambitious, measurable goals and defined timelines that address academic performance, culture and climate, talent, and operations.
• Design and execute a multi-year acceleration strategy that closes achievement gaps and drives above-average growth for all student subgroups, with particular attention to historically underserved populations.
• Establish a robust data infrastructure and decision-making cadence – including weekly data cycles, interim assessments, and real-time progress monitoring – to ensure the school continuously makes necessary adjustments based on evidence.
• Deploy targeted intervention frameworks that identify students performing below grade level and immediately connect them to differentiated supports, including tutoring, extended learning time, and credit recovery.
• Build a culture of urgency, high expectations, and collective accountability among staff, students, and families by setting clear non-negotiables and celebrating evidence of growth.
• Leverage research-based turnaround models (e.g., TNTP Instructional Playbook, High Dosage Tutoring, Whole School Reform) and adapt them to the school’s specific context and student population.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned to the turnaround plan, reporting progress transparently to the school network leadership, board, and community on a regular basis.
• Secure and strategically allocate turnaround-specific resources…